WELL! This is quite the pleasant surprise! I think I prefer this MUCH more than the previous design!

__________________

I dropped you off at the train station, And put a kiss on top of your head
I watched you wave, I watched you wave
Then I went on home to my skyscrapers, Neon lights and waiting papers
That I call home, I call it home

I kind've like the design. The curving balconies element is slightly similar to the spectacular Aqua in Chicago, but much more conservative and toned down. Personally, I'd prefer something more grand and imposing for this intersection, rather than something chic and understated (and still fairly conventional) like this, but I'd still gave the design 6.5/10.

And as far as height is concerned, I won't be happy with anything below 250m.

I kind've like the design. The curving balconies element is slightly similar to the spectacular Aqua in Chicago, but much more conservative and toned down. Personally, I'd prefer something more grand and imposing for this intersection, rather than something chic and understated (and still fairly conventional) like this, but I'd still gave the design 6.5/10.

And as far as height is concerned, I won't be happy with anything below 250m.

I've heard it will be around 220 metres. Don't quote me on that though.

It's still too early to judge for me though. The people over at UrbanToronto are destroying this building based on one rendering. They have no idea what the podium or the roof feature looks like, so I'm waiting to see more angles. The most important thing about this building is how it meets the street, if it does that successfully than the building will be great.

I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt until more accurate renders come out.

__________________

I dropped you off at the train station, And put a kiss on top of your head
I watched you wave, I watched you wave
Then I went on home to my skyscrapers, Neon lights and waiting papers
That I call home, I call it home

Anything around 230m will be fine for this building. As for street presense, it should be strictly condo. Probably a dark tinted glass on the first couple of floors where the lobby and the amenities are. They are probably still working on the street level design so people should give their suggestion.

Thanks to interchange42 on UT for the amazingly comprehensive and informative pics and info.

Quote:

Originally Posted by interchange42

Okay: lots of photos. To see larger versions, please visit my Flickr set, and play the slideshow, or click on the ALL SIZES button above the individual pics.

First, the overall model from various angles.

Here's something to look for, even though you will not see it: the building behind the balconies is not a rectangle. Each side of the building is angled two ways, with one angle running parallel to the street it fronts, while another portion angles out gently towards the street. The angling brings the building out toward the corner points of the balconies. If one were to pull those corner points out further, the building would look like a pinwheel from above... have I described that clearly?

Next, a look at the roofline, and a good time to talk about materials. The building will be clad in curtainwall, with the balconies edged with fritted glass, presumably producing an effect not entirely unlike KPMB's Festival Tower. Above the 65th floor the sculptural articulation of the balconies below will continue to the roof with the fritted glass, alternating with the clear glass of the curtainwall: this building will end up with a lantern style mechanical room up top.

Commercial space will be approximately 100,000 square feet, with 35,000 sq ft of that at street level, 45,000 sq ft of that on the level above, and 25,000 sq ft on the concourse (read: basement) level. A pedestrian mall connection will run through the ground floor commercial space from Yonge Street straight into the TTC connection in the Xerox building. One Bloor will not connect under Bloor Street to the Hudson's Bay Centre.

Ways to highlight the building's curves with light are night are being considered: LEDs may be used to trace the curves.

Suites are grouped in 4 sections:
The Podium: these suites do not appear to be on sale in the intial phase.
Silver: floors 8 through 38: 12 units per floor
Gold: floors 39 through 59: 10 units per floor
Platinum: floors 60 through 65: 6 units per floor
Those distinctions also have to do with level of finishing and features.

Sales are open first, and as of now, to buyers who purchased in the former Bazis project on this site. There is no firm date as yet to when the units will be on sale to the general public.

And now the question you've all been waiting for: the developer was asked at the launch if the building might increase in height before all is said and done. The answer: yes, it might, if the demand is there.

So for all of you screaming for 80 stories at Bloor and Yonge: if you want that, go out and buy a unit here. If you don't buy a unit here, don't whine incessantly about there only being 65 floors in the plan for this tower.